Wednesday, July 5, nationally recognized historian Heather Bruegl will present “A History of the Lake George Area and the Nations Who Called it Home.” The event will be held at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center, 48 Canada Street, Lake George at 7 p.m.
Those attending the program will learn about the Indigenous Nations that populated the area, how they lived and the policies that removed them from their homes and pushed them onto reservations. In a press release, Bruegl notes that, “All the land that makes up the United States was, in its entirety, Indigenous land. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and other nations called the Lake George area home well before colonization.”
Bruegl, who is a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in U.S. History from Madonna University and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. Her area of study is First Nations Education with a focus on inclusive historical narratives for teaching.
The program is one is a series of lectures co-sponsored by The Lake George Battlefield Park Alliance and the French and Indian War Society designed to raise awareness of the Lake George region’s early history. Fort William Henry CEO Kathryn Flacke-Muncil says the collaboration between the two organizations “signifies a significant milestone for Fort William Henry in its commitment to present a more comprehensive and accurate account of Indigenous history.”
“Fort William Henry has partnered with Heather Bruegl to elevate the interpretation of Indigenous history,” says Flacke-Muncil. “Heather’s personal background and extensive knowledge have provided an opportunity to enhance the representation of Indigenous allies’ pivotal roles during 18th Century battles at and around Lake George. It has also expanded the educational narrative surrounding pre-European contact.”
The program is free and open to the public. Space is limited and the Alliance encourages those who wish to attend to register in advance by emailing Info@lakegeorgebattlefield.org.
Featured image: Historian Heather Bruegl/courtesy photo